Washington '12: Getting Stoned at our Gay Weddings

[bgwah]

While we are growing faster than most states, our growth rate is slower than the previous decade I believe, and redistribution depends on high percentages of growth, enough to transfer large populations from one state to another. 2020 may be a very boring redistribution if current trends continue (I think there have been years in the past where barely any seats changed hands).

But if the country's growth slows down even more, that still puts us closer to a new seat.

[ModerateCoward]

http://www.king5.com/news/politics/Kucinich-on-a-WA-congressional-run-Im-looking-at-all-my-options-147218145.html

[TJ in Wisco]

http://www.king5.com/news/politics/Kucinich-on-a-WA-congressional-run-Im-looking-at-all-my-options-147218145.html

He's all yours!

[Seattle]

Yeah, I don't think WA will be getting up to 12 districts for quite some time, but it's still fun to play around

[ModerateCoward]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nba/2017976982_sacramento14.html
More good news!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nba/2017976982_sacramento14.html
More good news!

Is every sports team in Northern California thinking of moving? Note that most of them would stay within Northern California.

[Grad Students are the Worst]

Democratic caucuses tomorrow.  Past turnout:

2008: 190,000
2006: 5,200 (lol)
2004: 70,000

Whoever guesses tomorrow's caucus turnout closest wins a free order of cheesy bread!! (Seriously, I will order you cheesy bread through the internet if you care that damn much)

[ModerateCoward]

15,000 no cheesy bread for me
edit:oops

[bgwah]

10,500

[Fuzzy]

12,000

[Holmes]

21k.

[Meeker]

State Rep. Troy Kelley (D-28) has announced he's running for State Auditor. As a result, State Sen. Mike Carrell's opponent, a University Place City Councilmember, has dropped down to Kelley's old seat, leaving us without a candidate against Carrell and leaving the State Senate in even more danger.

[bgwah]

State Rep. Troy Kelley (D-28) has announced he's running for State Auditor. As a result, State Sen. Mike Carrell's opponent, a University Place City Councilmember, has dropped down to Kelley's old seat, leaving us without a candidate against Carrell and leaving the State Senate in even more danger.

I haven't been paying too much attention to the State Senate races. What is the most likely scenario for the Republicans to gain it?

[Meeker]

State Rep. Troy Kelley (D-28) has announced he's running for State Auditor. As a result, State Sen. Mike Carrell's opponent, a University Place City Councilmember, has dropped down to Kelley's old seat, leaving us without a candidate against Carrell and leaving the State Senate in even more danger.

I haven't been paying too much attention to the State Senate races. What is the most likely scenario for the Republicans to gain it?

Balance is 27-22 so if we lose three we're done for. Our danger seats are the 10th, the 25th and maybe the 19th. Thankfully Haugen decided to run for re-election in the 10th, but State Representative Barbara Bailey is challenging her. I'd say that one's too close to call. The 25th is gone - Kastama is running for SoS, demi-God State Rep. Bruce Dammeier is running and we don't have a candidate. Brain Hatfield in the 19th is popular but the old version of this district swung pretty hard R in 2010 and can be kinda funny. Hatfield also voted for marriage equality which probably doesn't play too well out here. His Republican opponent hasn't managed to raise much of any money though.

Our best pick-up opportunity was probably the 28th, though it was never that good of a shot and now that we don't even have a candidate one month before the filing deadline it looks lost. We have what looks to be a serious candidate in the 5th against Pflug but given the partisan lean of the seat plus her politically-savvy vote in favor of marriage equality I'm doubtful we've got a real shot there. Also might've had a shot at the 17th but the candidate we were courting decided to run for county office instead and we've got no one right now. Oh and the 41st might've been in play but Litzow voted for marriage equality and, once again, we don't have a candidate. Basically we're not going to really be playing offense anywhere.

So it's looking like a real possibility we'll end up with a 25D-24R Senate... but two of those "Democrats" are Tim Sheldon and Jim Hargrove. And then we have to defend four seats in 2014 (26th, 30th, 44th, 48th) though I suppose if 2014 turns out to be a good year for Democrats (unlikely unless Romney wins) we could win back the 6th, the 41st, the 45th or the 47th.

[bgwah]

The 41st is a prime pick-up opportunity. It would be a shame not to even try.

[Meeker]

I was hoping Randy Gordon would want to try to reclaim the seat but he's shown no interest so far.

[bgwah]

Not the State Senate, but with Goodman back in and the Republicans running a religious right candidate, I think that seat will be safe for us.*

*I'm now in the 45th so I care more.

[Meeker]

Groan...

Dear Friend,

I have just received this communication from Washington Citizens for Kucinich which asks that I consider running for Congress in Washington State.

This week, while I was speaking in Seattle, the question came up in two television interviews: KCPQ-TV and KING-TV. I cannot approach consideration of such an unprecedented step without seeking advice from you, my friends in Washington State, whose help and generosity have enabled me to serve in the US Congress from Ohio.

I would appreciate your participation in this survey of my Washington State supporters. Please click on this link, enter your email address and zip code, and then vote. I would be grateful for your comments too and shall be reading them on Wednesday.

Your participation and your guidance is critical to my decision.

Very sincerely,

Dennis Kucinich

[bgwah]

^ I was tempted to introduce a resolution welcoming Dennis to run in the 8th district at the caucus...

[Grad Students are the Worst]

How did your caucuses go?  Dull and not that highly-attended here.

[CultureKing]

How did your caucuses go?  Dull and not that highly-attended here.

I am registered in Olympia but live in Spokane, so sadly no caucusing for this guy.

[bgwah]

How did your caucuses go?  Dull and not that highly-attended here.

Yeah there were maybe around 40 people for (most of) north Sammamish. Somebody gave a speech for the sacrificial lamb running against Reichert. She sounds like a smart person and all but she will of course be crushed.

My precinct had three attendees and we got five delegates, so I'm a delegate to the legislative convention. The 8th CD convention will be about four minutes from my house, so I'll probably go to that too if possible.

[Meeker]

Turnout has been estimated as 9,500. Barack Obama won 98% of the vote.

[Grad Students are the Worst]

Gregoire just endorsed DelBene for congress.  It looks like there's a battle to become the anti-Burner.

[CultureKing]

Hey the Stranger (and Seattle Times I suppose) won a Pulitzer Prize!